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paper clay drawbacks?

updated fri 15 aug 03

 

Eric B on wed 13 aug 03


i've read a lot lately about the benefits of paper clay, e.g., "attach bone
dry pieces," etc. sounds great. but intuitively (having not yet raided my
supply of toilet paper in the garage to experiment) i'm wondering the following:

1. when the paper fibers burn out they must leave tiny "voids" throughout
the clay. does this made it difficult/impossible to achieve a smooth surface
for designing (without burnishing)? it seems like the clay surface would
always be a little pock-marked from the burnt out paper fibers.

2. how is the stuff to throw with? so far i think all the articles i've
read only talk about sculpting and handbuilding.

thanks all.

Eric
SpunMud

LindaBlossom on wed 13 aug 03


Dear Eric,

I make tiles and sinks so I don't throw with my paperclay. I do understand
from people who throw that trimming is an issue since the paper catches on
their loop tools. I use a crosscut shredder to make my clay so the fibers
are very short and don't give me any problem when I use a loop tool for
carving. I never have pits on the surface and can get a very smooth clay.
Perhaps it would help if you could get a sample of a paperclay from your
nearest supplier and play with it with the objective being to answer your
questions. Every question of wonder is a potential experiment.

Linda
Ithaca, NY





> i've read a lot lately about the benefits of paper clay, e.g., "attach
bone
> dry pieces," etc. sounds great. but intuitively (having not yet raided
my
> supply of toilet paper in the garage to experiment) i'm wondering the
following:
>
> 1. when the paper fibers burn out they must leave tiny "voids"
throughout
> the clay. does this made it difficult/impossible to achieve a smooth
surface
> for designing (without burnishing)? it seems like the clay surface would
> always be a little pock-marked from the burnt out paper fibers.
>
> 2. how is the stuff to throw with? so far i think all the articles
i've
> read only talk about sculpting and handbuilding.
>
> thanks all.
>
> Eric

claire toutant /patricia dailey on wed 13 aug 03


Hi,
I've been throwing paper clay for about 4 years, since it was comerically
available. There are two types that I know of, one a low fire red clay and
the other a cone 10 white clay. Both throw very well. A bit like
porcelain. I throw fairly dry, so that may also be a factor. I find it very
helpful for the plates, bowls, and vases that I throw with fairly thick
sprigged attachments that give a sculptural feel to the thrown items. It's the
only thing I have found so far that allows the attachments to stay on and
keeps the clay sufficiently together that it can withstand the strains that are
there because of the sprigging. Otherwise I get a horrible amount of cracking. The glazing problems have been discussed on clayart. Right now I do mostly luster and luster raku, so the problems of porosity don't matter much in non functional ware.
You can find my work on the internet at:
http://www.ceramicstoday.com/gallery/dailey.htm
and
http://www.ovcag.org/
under the artists menu
Hope this helps.
Patricia Dailey



2. how is the stuff to throw with? so far i think all the articles
i've
read only talk about sculpting and
handbuilding.
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>

L. P. Skeen on wed 13 aug 03


----- Original Message -----
From: "claire toutant /patricia dailey"

> Hi,
> I've been throwing paper clay for about 4 years, since it was comerically
available. There are two types that I know of, one a low fire red clay and
the other a cone 10 white clay.

Hi Patricia,

There are actually many more than 2 kinds of paperclay available; Axner
makes at least 3 and maybe more, for various temperature ranges.

L

Ron Roy on thu 14 aug 03


Hi Eric,

Paper clay will absorb water and probably leak - not the best situation for
functional ware.

RR

>i've read a lot lately about the benefits of paper clay, e.g., "attach bone
>dry pieces," etc. sounds great. but intuitively (having not yet raided my
>supply of toilet paper in the garage to experiment) i'm wondering the
>following:
>
>1. when the paper fibers burn out they must leave tiny "voids" throughout
>the clay. does this made it difficult/impossible to achieve a smooth surface
>for designing (without burnishing)? it seems like the clay surface would
>always be a little pock-marked from the burnt out paper fibers.
>
>2. how is the stuff to throw with? so far i think all the articles i've
>read only talk about sculpting and handbuilding.
>
>thanks all.
>
>Eric
>SpunMud


Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-9544
Fax: 613-475-3513